Son on trial in dad's slaying during family barbecue

Updated 11:17 pm, Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Photo: Julysa Sosa / For The San Antonio Express-News

Image 1of/3

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 3

Prosecutors charged Darius Goodwin, 22, with murder in the shooting of his father, Daniel Goodwin, 41, at a family barbecue in 2012. His lawyer says it's a case of self-defense. Testimony is to resume today.

Prosecutors charged Darius Goodwin, 22, with murder in the shooting of his father, Daniel Goodwin, 41, at a family barbecue in 2012. His lawyer says it's a case of self-defense. Testimony is to resume today.

Photo: Julysa Sosa / For The San Antonio Express-News

Image 2 of 3

Darrius Goodwin, 22, accused of fatally shooting his father, Daniel Goodwin, 41, at a family barbecue in 2012, listens to the first witness testimony during the trial for the jury Tuesday August 26, 2014 in state District Judge Lorina Rummel 144th state District Courtroom. less

Darrius Goodwin, 22, accused of fatally shooting his father, Daniel Goodwin, 41, at a family barbecue in 2012, listens to the first witness testimony during the trial for the jury Tuesday August 26, 2014 in ... more

Photo: For The San Antonio Express-News

Image 3 of 3

Darrius Goodwin, 22, accused of fatally shooting his father, Daniel Goodwin, 41, at a family barbecue in 2012, listens to the first witness testimony while a picture of the weapon used in the shooting are displayed during the trial for the jury Tuesday August 26, 2014 in state District Judge Lorina Rummel 144th state District Courtroom. less

Darrius Goodwin, 22, accused of fatally shooting his father, Daniel Goodwin, 41, at a family barbecue in 2012, listens to the first witness testimony while a picture of the weapon used in the shooting are ... more

Photo: For The San Antonio Express-News

Son on trial in dad's slaying during family barbecue

1 / 3

Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — Darius Goodwin fatally shot his father during a cookout two years ago either in self-defense or out of anger, attorneys on opposing sides told jurors Tuesday as his murder trial began.

The Goodwins had planned to barbecue one weeknight in June 2012 and wheeled a TV into their apartment's breezeway, where they intended to take in an NBA Finals game between Miami and Oklahoma City, witnesses testified.

Daniel Goodwin, 41, was among the five adults and four children living in the East Commerce Street apartment, including his son, his daughter and her husband.

Both the state and the defense agree an argument broke out between father and son when Darius Goodwin, 22, asked for help with the barbecue and Daniel Goodwin refused. Soon after, both men ended up inside the apartment.

Exactly what happened next is in dispute, but police and paramedics later found Daniel Goodwin lying in his bedroom with a fatal gunshot wound to the chest.

Prosecutor Jan Ischy-Prins said it wasn't a case of self-defense, which would result in acquittal, or sudden passion, which could result in a sentence of no more than 20 years. Murder usually carries a punishment of up to life in prison.